Clove is sweet and very strong. He is of a tropical nature, and pretty slow to grow up. It will take him 8 or 9 years before he will fruit. This evergreen tree has large branches with a smooth grey bark and can grow up to 40 feet tall. His substantial arms produce glossy bright green leaves that arrive in pairs on short stalks, and when bruised are quite fragrant. But it is his unusual flowers that are the source of his spice.  Long greenish buds appear at the beginning of the rainy season followed by four tiny petals surround a long calyx, making up the “stem” of the clove herb. His strange flowers are are pink in bud, then the calyx transitions from yellow to a deep red once the stamens fall out. He produces a fruit called mother-of-cloves, which is an edible purple berry. Not one to rush around, Clove is sturdy and laid back, while his spice reminds us that a strong presence does not need to be flashy.

The Magic of Clove

The Medicine of Clove

Science of Clove